Yuebin Guo completed with a up and Ted Forrest, who if you recall won the $1,500 razz event at the 1993 World Series of Poker, called with a . Even though he caught a on fourth, Guo bet because Forrest had paired. That didn't stop the five-time bracelet winner from calling though, as he did when he tripped up on fifth.
Guo then fired out another bet on sixth and it did the trick as Forrest released his hand.
David "Gunslinger" Bach complted with a up and received a call from Brandon "Any Two" Cantu, who was showing a . Cantu took the lead on fourth and bet, which Bach called. That action repeated itself until seventh when both players checked.
Cantu: /
Bach: /
We missed one of Cantu's cards, but the announcer stated that he had a jack-nine low. It was no good though as Bach had rivered a J-8-7-6-4 low for the win.
It didn't take long for the first elimination of the day to occur, and it's no surprise that it was the short stack at the final table.
It happened when Greg Pappas called the bring-in bet with an showing and Hellmuth completed with a . Kevin Iacofano reraised with a , Pappas called, and Hellmuth pushed back. A series of raises saw Iacofano get his last 28,500 in the pot and he needed to survive against two opponents.
Pappas and Hellmuth actually created a side pot when the former bet both fourth and fifth and received calls from the "Poker Brat." Hellmuth took the lead on sixth, promptly bet, and Pappas called. Hellmuth then bet seventh and Pappas raised him. Hellmuth called and discovered the bad news.
Pappas: /
Hellmuth: /
Iacofano: /
Iacofano finished with a Q-8-6-4-A low, which was no good as Hellmuth and Pappas held a seven-five and six-four low respectively. Hellmuth seemed distraught to be beat, and he got up out of his chair and wandered toward the back of the ESPN main stage as Iacofano collected his things and exited to a nice round of applause.
Two years ago Phil Hellmuth and Brandon Cantu were both at the $2,500 razz final table where they engaged in numerous battles, both on the felt and verbally. Hellmuth ultimately won that event and knocked out Cantu in third. There's a lot of history between these "frenemies," and the two just played their first pot together here at the Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz final table.
It began when Greg Pappas completed with a and Hellmuth raised with an . Cantu reraised with a , both his opponents called, and it was off to fourth street. Cantu kept the lead with a but checked, which opened the door for Pappas to bet with a . Hellmuth and Cantu both called and then two checks on fifth street put action on the "Poker Brat." He bet, two calls followed, and then Cantu led out on sixth.
Hellmuth called, Pappas folded, and then seventh went check-check.
Pappas: (x-x) / fold
Cantu: (x-x) / /
Hellmuth: /
Hellmuth managed to make an 8-7-6-4-A low on the river, and it was good as Cantu scooped up his cards and sent them to the muck.
In the first hand of the final table, Kevin Iacofano brought it in with a and David Bach just called with an . Ted Forrest then completed with a , Iacofano folded, and Bach called. Forrest proceeded to bet on both fourth and fifth streets, Bach called, and then the "Gunslinger" took the lead on sixth.
Bach check-called a bet and then did the same on seventh.
Bach: (x-x) / /
Forrest: /
Forrest had made an 8-7-5-4-2 low on the river, and it was good as Bach sent his cards to the muck.
The introductions have been made and the final eight players are in their seats. Cards are back in the air here in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz. The ESPN Main Stage has drawn quite the crowd, many of them in attendance to see if Phil Hellmuth is able to capture his record fourteenth bracelet.
Today the 2014 World Series of Poker will see the start of two events (Event #9: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em and Event #10: $10,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Low Championship) and the conclusion of two others (this one and Event #6: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout); however, it's safe to say that all eyes will be here on Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz as the WSOP's most decorated player, Phil Hellmuth, attempts to capture his fourteenth bracelet.
Yesterday, Hellmuth notched his 101st cash by making the money and then went on to make his 50th WSOP final table. Hellmuth, who won the razz event at the 2012 WSOP for his 12th bracelet, will start the day second in chips.
The only man in a better position to make a run at the $121,196 first-place prize is Greg Pappas, a poker industry veteran who bagged up 391,500. Also in a good position is last year’s runner-up, David “Gunslinger” Bach, who you may recall showed off his mixed-game chops when he won the 2009 Poker Players’ Championship.
The final table also includes Brandon Cantu (175,000) and Ted Forrest (171,000). The former is a two-time bracelet winner that finished third in the razz event Hellmuth won two years ago. The two butted heads numerous times at that final table, and leading up to this one they engaged in numerous verbal jousts while taking turns getting under the other’s skin. We expect the two to attack each other here on Day 3, both verbally and in their gameplay.
As for Forrest, who has played a quiet and steady game leading up to the final table, he has five gold bracelets on his résumé including the 1993 WSOP $1,500 razz title, and he's in a good position to make a run at No. 6. Brock Parker, also a two-time bracelet winner who grinded his way to the final table, is still alive with 138,500, as are short stacks Yuebin Guo and Kevin Iacofano, who’re bringing up the rear with 90,000 and 45,500 respectively.
Play is set to get underway at 2 p.m. local time, which is just over an hour from now. Join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team then to see if Hellmuth will capture his fourteenth bracelet or if one of the others players will stand in his way and become a part of history.
![[user153638]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
up and Ted Forrest, who if you recall won the $1,500 razz event at the 1993 World Series of Poker, called with a 
. Even though he caught a 
on fourth, Guo bet because Forrest had paired. That didn't stop the five-time bracelet winner from calling though, as he did when he tripped up on fifth.
. Cantu took the lead on fourth and bet, which Bach called. That action repeated itself until seventh when both players checked.
/ 
. Kevin Iacofano reraised with a 
